About Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh and is recognized by McKinsey Quarterly as a ‘Global City of the Future.’ Vijayawada is the most central transportation point in the state and is also well connected to the rest of the country with two national highways passing through it. Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada is slated to be one of the largest bus stations in Asia while Vijayawada Junction Railway Station is the largest railway junction in the region. The Krishna River flows to the east and west of Vijayawada while the Budameru River holds the north. Fertile agricultural land irrigated by three major canals cover Vijayawada’s central, southwestern and northwestern parts and small to medium-sized hills surround Vijayawada from the northern, northwestern and southwestern sides. The 30,000 acreKondapalli Reserve Forest provides Vijayawada with clean air and the soft wood used to make ‘Kondapalli toys,’ popularized by the celebration of BommalaKoluvu.
Vijayawada is well known for the Kanaka Durga temple that beckons busloads of devotees everyday. It is located on top of Indrakeeladri Hill, from where one may enjoy an eagle’s eye perspective of Vijayawada. Ancient epigraphs line the two routes leading to the temple, still retaining ancient stories of religious significance. According to one version of mythology, Vijayawada was GodessDurga’s resting place upon slaying the demon, Durgama. Another version recalls Arjuna receiving his holy weapon, the Pasupatha, on top of this hill. Upon doing so, he built the Kanaka Durga temple, around which the city of Vijayawada would bloom. Other sites of religious significance include the MarkataRajarajeswari Temple; the SubramanyaSwamy Temple; the MahalakshmiAmmaravu Temple; The Narasimha Temple in Mangalagiri; The HazratBal Mosque that displays a holyrelic of the Prophet Mohammed once a year; HinkarThirtha, the region’s largest Jain temple, and the GundalaMatha Shrine that hosts the annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, attended by hordes.
An escape route from the city life in Vijayawada leads to the 133-acre Bhavani Island located on the Krishna River. Visitors may enjoy boat rides to the island, water sports and stay at a river front resort. The town of Amaravati, 33 kms outside Vijayawada, is the site of Chintapalli, a Buddhist settlement during the reign of Asoka. A massive stupa once stood here, said to be bigger than the ones found in Sanchi. The Archaeological Museum in Amaravati boasts of exhibits dating back to the 3rd century BC. Another site of educational significance, just 8 kms from Vijayawada, is that of the Undavalli Caves that showcase the rock-cut sandstone architecture of the Guptas from as long ago as the 7th century BC.
Vijayawada’s 1.2 km Prakasam Barrage built across The Krishna River is the largest of its kind in Asia. It was first constructed in 1855 and reconstructed in 1957. The barrage irrigates over twelve lakh acres of farmland and supplies water to the thermal power plant at Ibrahimpatnam, which powers much of Andhra Pradesh.
Other places of general interest in and around Vijayawada include the Mogalarajapuram Caves, with carvings said to be the first of their kind; the hamlet of Kuchpudi, located 60 kms from the city at the birthplace of the age-old Kuchipudi dance form; The historic Victoria Jubilee Museum in Bandar Road; Gandhi Hill with a 50 ft. stupa in memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and the Kondapalli Fort, 16 kms from Vijayawada, which served as a center of commerce for many dynasties and as a training station for the British army.
About Hampi
Now a tiny village in Karnataka, Hampi SVKDT Travels was once the proud and prosperous capital of the Vijaynagara kingdom. Designated a World heritage Site by the UNESCO, it is a hill-town full of romantic ruins and incredible greenery. At its peak, it was a city full of magnificent temples and palaces. Its grandeur was finally lost when it was attacked by the Mughals in the latter half of the 16th century.
Two brothers from the Sangama family, Harihara and Bukka, gave it the status of their capital in the year 1336 A.D. Over a period of 300 years, 23 kings ruled over this city. Hampi’s most celebrated ruler, Krishnadeva Raya, finally lost the city in 1564. Legend has it that such was its wealth that it took six months and thousand of elephants to carry the loot out.
Hampi was in its glory 700 years ago. It was the capital of the famous Vijayanagara empire. The city is in absolute ruins now. But during the time when it was alive, it was known for its splendor, grandeur, and fabulous wealth far beyond the shores of India.
Hampi was destroyed by Mughal invaders in 1565.
Hampi is located in the northern part of Karnataka state of India, on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, and is about 343 kilometers from Bangalore. The ruins of Hampi is scattered over a 26 square kilometer area amidst boulders and vegetation. You can take a visit from SVKDT Travels to Hampi.
The web site SVKDT Travels makes to visit Hampi
"The splendid remains of palaces and gateways of the broken city tells a tale of men infinite talent and power of creativity together with his capacity for senseless destruction.
Strewn over a large area (about nine square miles) the ruins at Hampi offers to the tourist a remainder of the greatest land in the whole world. Every rock, every path and every monument at Hampi speak the same language; a language of glory and beauty."
Hampi SVKDT Travels has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. After long neglect, in March 2002, the Government of India has announced that Hampi would be developed as an international tourists destination centre.
Hampi SVKDT Travels, once a flourishing capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, is a very small village in the Northern Karnataka. Hampi exhibits the vast relics of the city of Vijaynagar, also known as the City of Victory. The Vijaynagar empire extended from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and from the Deccan Plateau to the tip of the peninsula. It was built as a showpiece of imperial magnificence. The main attraction in Hampi are the temples built by the Vijaynagar empire. The temperature in Hampi ranges from 23 to 38 degree Celsius in summers and 10 to 15 degree Celsius in winters. Hampi can be visited throughout the year, except from April to June, when it is very hot.
The main tourist attractions in Hampi are its temples. The various temples in Hampi are Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple. The other tourist attractions in Hampi are Lotus Mahal, Hazara Rama Temple, Queen's Bath and Tungabhadra Dam. You can visit these places by SVKDT Travels
Hampi is connected with all parts of Karnataka and to Hyderabad by road. Some of the nearby cities are Pattadakal, Aihole, Badami, Bijapur and Bangalore. Make a shot to visit only by SVKDT Travels
The Hampi city was wealthy, greater than Rome, with a market full of jewels and palaces plated with gold, having held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton, bejeweled courtesans and joyous festivities. However, with the defeat in 1565 at Talikota at the hands of the Deccan Sultans, the dazzling city was largely destroyed. Now the city has ruins of stone temples, elephant stables, barracks and palaces. The ruins of Hampi lies scattered in about 26 sq. km area, amidst golden brown granite boulders and vegetation. So plan trip Hampi to view this places by SVKDT Travels
The Hampi city is also the home of Pampakshetra - home of Pampa, the daughter of Lord Brahma and wedded to Shiva.
Book online bus tickets to Hampi by SVKDT Travels